Abstract
This paper presents the results of a parametric study that focused on the effects of bridge length and span variations on the maximum stress intensity (stress concentration) in the piles of horizontally-curved steel I-girder integral abutment bridges. Over 1,700 three-dimensional nonlinear finite element models with bridge lengths up to 365 m (1200 ft) were analyzed as part of this study. The results indicate that the stress concentration in the piles increases with increasing bridge length and reaches its maximum value at a certain bridge length. Beyond that bridge length, pile stress concentration decreases despite the fact that bridge length continues to increase. This represents a difference in behavior compared to straight integral abutment bridges where the pile stress concentration always increases with increasing bridge length. The study also indicates that curved integral abutment bridges of smaller radius have a larger pile stress intensity reduction due to increased number of spans compared to curved integral abutment bridges of larger radius. Key words: Integral abutment bridges, curved bridges, finite element modeling, thermal loads.
Highlights
Straight integral abutment bridges were studied by many researchers (Jorgenson, 1983; Yang et al, 1985; Greimann et al, 1986, 1987, 1988; Amde et al, 1988, 1997; Griton et al, 1991; Lawver et al, 2000; Paraschos and Amde, 2010)
Over 1,700 three-dimensional finite element models were developed as part of a parametric study to investigate the effects of an increasing bridge length ranging from 15 (50) to 365 m (1200 ft) and the effects of span length variation on the maximum stress intensity developed in the piles of curved steel I-girder IAB’s
DOFs at each node: translations decreases despite the fact that bridge length continues to increase up to a bridge length of 365 m (1200 ft). This represents a difference in behavior compared to straight integral abutment bridges where the pile stress concentration always increases with increasing bridge length
Summary
Straight integral abutment bridges were studied by many researchers (Jorgenson, 1983; Yang et al, 1985; Greimann et al, 1986, 1987, 1988; Amde et al, 1988, 1997; Griton et al, 1991; Lawver et al, 2000; Paraschos and Amde, 2010). They concluded that thermal gradient had a relatively small effect on the movements of the abutments and piers of bridges up to 91 m (300 ft) in length. The results of the study are used to make recommendations on the design and construction of horizontally curved steel Igirder IAB’s
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